Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey believes that the current Dolphins defense is the best one that he’s been a part of in his NFL career in regards to the scheme.
Jalen Ramsey says this Miami Dolphins defense is the best defense he’s been a part of pic.twitter.com/wXobvCL0XC
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) June 6, 2023
To clarify here, Ramsey said he’s excited about having the defensive teammates he has. But the best defense comment was in response to a question about the scheme.
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) June 6, 2023
That’s some serious praise, as Ramsey has played on his fair share of elite defenses in his career that have put together some pretty strong schemes.
During the 2021 season, Ramsey was with the Los Angeles Rams, who went on to win the Super Bowl over the Cincinnati Bengals. That defense featured two future Hall of Famers up front in Von Miller and Aaron Donald.
While that Rams unit was elite, it may not have even been as great as the 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars, who made the AFC Championship Game with Ramsey on the roster. That season, the Jags ranked second in the NFL in opponent points and yards.
To compare the current Dolphins defense to either of those units is asking a lot from this year’s group, but Ramsey clearly is confident in Miami’s current roster.
The Dolphins’ secondary is strong, as it features Ramsey, Xavien Howard and Jevon Holland. Howard is a four-time Pro Bowler who should provide steady coverage across from Ramsey. The Dolphins also drafted cornerback Cam Smith in the 2023 NFL Draft to bolster their secondary as well.
Miami ranked 27th in the NFL in passing yards allowed last season, so it’s key that the team improve in that aspect of the defense.
Up front, the Dolphins have pass rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, who should be an elite duo in their first full season together. Chubb was acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos at the deadline during the 2022 season.
In two seasons in the NFL, Phillips has shown why he was a first-round pick, registering 15.5 sacks despite not starting for most of his rookie season.
Ultimately, Miami’s defensive success may come down to just how dominant Ramsey can be in the secondary this season.
Last season, Ramsey appeared in all seventeen games for the Rams, picking off four passes in the process. He finished with a career-high 88 tackles, four tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
A six-time Pro Bowler, Ramsey can wreak havoc with his uncanny ability to pick off opposing quarterbacks. In his career, he has 19 interceptions and has picked off multiple passes in five of his seven NFL seasons.
If this unit lives up to Ramsey’s expectations, the Dolphins should be in contention for a division title and possibly a Super Bowl in the 2023 season.
